Purpose:
To investigate the effects of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 3 and MMP-13 expression in cultured human pterygial fibroblast cells according to the concentration and exposure time of Cyclosporine A (Cys A) after being scratched.

Methods:
Scratched-human pterygial fibroblast cells were exposed to a Cys A concentrations of 1 µg/ml (0.0001%) and 100 µg/ml (0.01%) for 3 or 10 minutes and then cells were washed with D-PBS and re-incubated or exposed to a MMP-3 specific inhibitor (MMP-3 VII inhibitor) or MMP-9/13 inhibitor with serum depletion DMEM-F-12 (1:1) media for 48 hours. Cells were lysed for Western blotting or extracted mRNA for RT-PCR. Supernatant media were used to perform TCA precipitation for Western blotting. MMP-3 and MMP-13 expression of fibroblast after the stimulation were studied.

Conclusions:
Previous studies reported that the expression of several types of MMPs was increased in pterygium, and Cys A can be effective in preventing recurrences after primary pterygium surgery. Our results suggested that Cys A inhibited cell migration after being scratched by reducing expression of MMPs. These findings reveal therapeutic potential for pterygium progression.